Wednesday 11 May 2011 02.00 EDT
First published on Wednesday 11 May 2011 02.00 EDT

On this showing Manchester City will have to improve considerably to make strides in Europe next season. They escaped a long period of playing second fiddle to a smoother passing Tottenham side. Spurs did not create the chances to reflect their dominance of possession but they embarrassed City with the sheer amount of ball they enjoyed.

Perhaps City had one eye on Wembley. Maybe they were nervous. They grouped well behind the ball but their pressing individually and collectively was poor. They lacked bite and hustled only spasmodically to destabilise Spurs' rhythm. It was a display of "what we have we hold".

Carlos Tevez's late introduction added imagination and the right attitude to close down opponents early. He sets an example to his colleagues and his industry and enthusiasm needs to rub off on them. Once the player furthest forward moves to challenge then his nearest colleague must also advance in tandem and the next player similarly. That stops the opposition at source and, importantly, further up the pitch progress can be stunted in the middle-third. Here City allowed the visitors too much room but the fates smiled on them and Tottenham at present can play well but not finish.

Maybe City had a plan to concede the ball to the visitors and hoped to catch them on the break but it is a dangerous game, particularly at home. If defenders sit too deep and the midfielders and front men fail to press the ball as a group then there will always be danger.

City's early approach was far from brisk and lacked bite. One sensed that they were happy to sit deep and hope to rely on the skills of Adam Johnson and David Silva to create on the break.

By not squeezing up quickly enough to close down the Tottenham player on the ball and cutting out his options for passing invites pressure, especially when a technician as wonderful as Luka Modric is pulling the strings.

City lacked an organised shape and support for one another. Roberto Mancini showed his concern when he sent on Patrick Vieira for Johnson. They needed a more solid base, more tackles and more oomph. When he came on they slowly escaped their straitjacket and their frayed nerves.